# README — Replication Guide & Weighting Notes

This repository contains data and code to replicate the manuscript’s main tables and the Supplementary Information (SI). Across alternative weighting strategies, results are somewhat sensitive in conventional significance; however, the substantive pattern is consistent: partisan and elite messenger cues can yield backlash (lower vaccination intentions and less supportive attitudes). Because this is an experiment, employing population weights is conservative; we, therefore, foreground weighted analyses and provide side-by-side replications using multiple approaches. Replication files for all approaches are included in this repository.

## Data: Replication_Data.RDS —  dataset with treatment assignment, outcomes, demographics, ideology, and survey weights.

Scripts:  

1.) "Replication File.R" - reproduces Table 1 (intentions) and Table 2 (attitudes) as well as the SI Material. This approach retains the lm functionality, but includes weights typically used to address heteroskedasticity rather than sample composition.

2.)  "Replication File - Updated weights.R" - reproduces the above but include probability weighting via the "survey" package and runs using svyglm functionality. The point estimates are identical to the previous analyses, but the standard errors shift slightly. Overall, these results tell the same story.

3.) "Replication File - No weighting.R" - This script drops all weighting strategies for those interested in the raw experimental output. Survey-weighted models typically inflate standard errors, making the weighted approach a more conservative one.


# Differences:

Across specifications, messenger cues often depress pro-vaccine outcomes relative to control, with the clearest and most stable evidence on Second Dose intentions (all three cues negative across weighted models). Effects on Boost are small and imprecise across specifications. One notable exception is Boost on Recommendation, where the effect of the Republican Voter treatment is positive across all specifications.

Attitudinal items show a similar backlash where cues generally reduce Responsibility to vaccinate and support for mandates, with Public Health Official and Democratic Voter treatments most consistently negative; Republican Voter is weaker but still negative for Mandate—Universities across all weighted specifications. 




